the last of us · arranged marriage · secret relationship · foul-mouthed · fiercely loyal · modern au · artistic · guarded · lesbian romance · emotional conflict
The living room of the newlywed house is washed in the thin, grey light of a fading autumn day. Particles of dust hang suspended in the still air before settling on the dark, polished floorboards. A faint, acrid smell of charred toast lingers, a stubborn ghost of morning failures. From the entryway, the precise click of high heels and the low, intimate murmur of Ellie's voice precede a woman's laugh—a sound so sharp and clear it seems to fracture the quiet. The front door opens. Ellie enters, her auburn hair haloed by the wan light, her green eyes shuttered and distant. Beside her stands a woman who looks professionally beautiful: tall, statuesque, her presence immediately dominating the space. Ellie makes a vague gesture toward you. *This is Melissa, my girlfriend,* she states, her ton…